Fire festival observed with minimum of casualties

Copyright office says it is alert to its responsibilities

PANAFEST 99 Sponsorship launched

Tamale (Northern Region), 28^th April ‘99 –

Elaborate security measures mounted during the celebration of the bugum (fire) festival of the chiefs and people of Tamale last Monday proved to be unnecessary as the celebrations passed almost without an incident.

Only two shooting incidents involving two teenages Rahuf Mohammed and Salisu Issah, were reported unlike in previous years when the festival was charaterised by lots of violence and blood letting.

The suspects both aged 18 are helping the police in their investigations while the victim of the incident, Moahmmed Tahiru is on admission at the Tamale hosptial.

Bugum which is believed to both religious and traditional significance, dates back to the period of Noah's Ark and recalls when the Patriarch was led out of the Ark after the great floods, with torches.

It is marked by processions of people holding lighted torches, amidst traditional drumming and dancing.

Over the years the youth have perceived the festival as occasion to publicly demonstrate their supernatural powers such as immunity against gunshots and assault with weapons like machetes.

This has led to a lot of injuries in the past ad the massive security build up this year was to prevent such acts and ensure a safe festival.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 April ’99

The Copyright Office on Tuesday said it is alert to its role in ensuring the protection of intellectual property. It however called on such owners for support in the fight to protect their works.

Even though the office is equipped and empowered, the role of the public, including owners of such works, is needed to bring their work to a higher pedestal, it said.

Mr Bernard K. Bosumprah, acting copyright administrator, made these comments when he took his turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra to explain to newsmen, musicians and other stakeholders the operations and performance of the copyright office since its establishment 13 years ago.

He said his office, in accordance with the law establishing it, keeps a register of works, productions and associations of authors.

"This is to maintain a record of works, publicise the rights of owners and to give evidence of ownership of intellectual property."

Mr Bosumprah said registration is not compulsory, except for published works, as copyright protection exists once the conditions necessary for such protection are satisfied.

The law mandates the publisher of any work to cause it to be registered at the copyright office within three months of publication and to deposit two copies of the first edition in the office.

The Copyright said it was in touch with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to set up a registry that would meet international standards. This is to put in place appropriate measures for the computerisation of materials in a manner that will facilitate easy access to and retrieval of information.

The right of the copyright office covers subjects like literary, artistic and musical works, broadcasts, cinematographic and choreographic works, journalism and computer softwares.

Originators of such works were assured that copies of their product on the international market are covered because the Ghana copyright office is affiliated to all relevant international copyright organisations.

Mr Bosumprah said as part of its role, the office has arbitrated over 600 disputes covering various aspects of copyright since 1992. The arbitration system provides an alternative to lengthy and expensive court proceedings.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 April ’99

The Fourth Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST '99) sponsorship programme was launched yesterday with a call on the business community to support and invest in the festival.

"It imposes on us the challenges to reflect more seriously on the place and role of our culture in our development efforts and it is for this reason that the festival requires support and assistance," Mrs Vicky Addy, member of Council of State, ssid to launch the programme.

The festival, which will be held from July 30 to August 8 this year, is being organised under the auspices of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the Government of Ghana.

It is without government sponsorship and will be held solely as a private business venture.

Mrs Addy said: "We cannot solely rely on the benevolence of those outside this country to organise the festival" and urged Ghanaians to see it as their collective responsibility to ensure a successful PANAFEST.

Businesses and corporate bodies must take advantage of the "immense benefits" that will be provided by the festival, she said.

Mrs Addy said "PANAFEST, with its theme, "The Re-emergence of African Civilisation", offers "us a unique opportunity to unite our strengths and to effect development in a very positive way"

"Our continent has seen the rise and fall of civilisation, and it witnessed the pain of captivity, exile and forced under-development", she said, adding that those forces "must now be turned around to ensure the improvement of the lives of the people and that of posterity".

Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah, President of the Executive Committee of PANAFEST Foundation stated that over the years, PANAFEST has steadily developed a family, with its concentration in the United States, Britain and the Caribbean.

PANAFEST now has linkages with a coalition of Black Publishers in all major American cities, which has managed to organise a powerful membership to participate in PANAFST'99.

More than 4,000 participants are scheduled to attend this year's festival.

Dr Abdallah said the coalition is also organising essay contests in connection with the festival, for colleges and high schools in the United States.

One of the topics will be: "What my heritage means to me", while the other one asks African-Americans to trace their family linkages in Africa.

Mr Kwasi Abeasi, President of the Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF) who presided, urged the private business sector to take the PANAFEST seriously.

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